Phonograph reset and exterior latch mechanism



T. R. DUNCAN 3,037,779 PHONOGRAPH RESET AND EXTERIOR LATCH MECHANISM June 5, 1962 Filed April 13, 1959 INVENTOR.

THYEODOQE Q. Dun CAN BY ATrokznevs.

nited States atent ()filice 3,031,779 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,779 PHONOGRAPH RESET AND EXTERIOR LATCH MECHANISM Theodore R. Duncan, North Hollywood, Calm, assignor to Mattel Incorporated Filed Apr. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 805,754 3 Claims. (Cl. 274-2) This invention has to do generally with toy or miniature phonographs embodying a repeat or reset mechanism of the type set forth in my co-pending application entitled Phonograph Repeat Mechanism, Serial No. 360,984, and more particularly to a release mechanism associated with the reset means for operating a catch or the like.

In my above referred to application for patent I show a reset mechanism for a phonograph wherein a reset means of a type embodying a lever pivotally mounted upon the phonograph record is utilized for returning the tone arm from the end of the record playing groove to the beginning thereof. An object of the present invention is to provide a novel means utilizing the reset means of the above referred to application for the purpose of actuating or releasing a catch or lever operably mounted on the phonograph and designed to releasably hold, or to be operably associated with another mechanism.

By way of example the phonograph unit may be incorporated in a toy of the jack-in-the-box type and used for releasing the cover of the box.

A further object is to provide a novel assembly in which a phonograph unit including a reset mechanism and a pivotally mounted catch or lever are embodied in a single merchandisable unit adapted for installation in a toy or other device for controlling some movable element of such device.

A further object is to provide a simple, durable foolproof means of the type indicated which is cheap to manufacture. These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and the following description. Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a jack-in-the-box type of toy in which the invention is installed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the parts in a different position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the parts in a farther advanced position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of FIG. 2.

More particularly describing the invention, in FIG. 1 I show a toy 11 commonly termed a jack-in-the-box, the toy having a box-like casing or housing 12 with a lid or cover 13 hingedly mounted at 14 and movable from the closed position in which it is shown in full lines to the open position shown in broken lines. The cover may include a spring associated with the hinge 14 for yieldably urging the cover to open position, although this is not essential since in such devices the toy, FIGURE 15, is usually resilient or provided with an internal spring so that it must be compressed into the position shown and thus when the cover is closed it pushes upwardly against the cover tending to open it.

In order to releasably retain the cover closed it is provided with a bracket 16 having an eye portion 17 which is engaged by a latch member 18 forming part of the in vention.

Mounted inside phonograph unit cludes a casing nected by a side pickup 8.1111 24 the casing 12 I show a miniature designated generally by 20. This inhaving opposed walls 21 and 22 conwall 23. Within the casing is a sound pivoted at 25, the arm being generally Leshaped as viewed in plan and having a main section 26 and a laterally extending section 27 which terminates in a button or bearing surface 28 adapted to ride against the inner surface of wall 22. The arm carries a needle 28 for engaging the sound groove 30 of a record 32. The latter is fixedly secured to a spindle 34 which is jou rnaled in the wall 21 and is formed as a crank 35 externally of the casing 12 with a handle portion having a rotatable sleeve 36.

The reset mechanism, which is substantially the same as that set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 360,984, comprises a spring biased lever 40 having a base 41 apertured at its end to receive a mounting pin or rivet 42 carried by the record disk 32. Lever 40 is stepped at 43 and is provided with -a needle engaging portion 44 disposed in 'a plane above portion 41 and such that its longitudinal axis forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the portion 41. The portion 44 is characterized by a convexly arcuate forward edge 55 with a recessed edge portion or interruption 56 for engagement and reception of the needle of the sound pickup. Lever 40 is yieldably urged to a normal position of engagement of the end of portion 44 with the record spindle 34 by a wire spring 48 having legs 49 and 50* and one or more turns 52 around the mounting pin 42. Leg 50 bears against the record spindle while the other leg bears against the stepped portion 43 of the lever being received in a recess 43' thereof.

Onthe pickup 58 between the needle and the This provides an inclined cam face 59 which is first en gaged by lever 40 in the operation of the device for the purpose of raising the tone aim and needle prior to the returning of the tone arm to the play-beginning position.

The latch member 18 comprises a piece of sheet metal A central portion 63 extends at right angles or normal to the mounting section and as a continuation of a portion of one edge thereof and includes a tongue section 64 which projects through an opening 65 in the wall 23 of the phonograph. Extending from the o posite edge of the central section 63 is a hook section 66 formed to lie provide an upwardly pro ecting hook 68 which releasably the j'ack-in-the-box housing.

The latch member 18 is yieldably urged to upright position in which it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by a spring 70 having a central portion 70' which extends about seven-eighths of a turn around the rivet 62 and has in a common plane. rivet 62 serves in place of a washer to space the section 61 of the latch member from the side of the case.

In order to utilize the reset lever and pickup arm as a means of operating the latch member 18 which releasably holds the cover 13 of the box 12 I provide a series of slight protuberances or projections 60 spaced along the arcuate edge 55 of the lever. In place ofthese, ratchetlike teeth may be employed or any other means of a nature such that, as the reset lever is pivoted, it will engage the edge 64' of tongue section 64 of latch member 18 and pivot the same.

In the operation of the traversed the record the playing area, the

device, when the tone arm has groove 30 and moved inwardly of 56. As the record further rotates from such position the 3 reset lever pivots outwardly as shown in FlG. 3 to carry the tone arm with it to the outer portion of the record. As the reset lever moves outwardly the roughened edge portion of the section 4.4 engages the inner end or edge of the tongue 64 of latch'18 and subsequently pivots this lever against the action of its spring 76 out of engagement with the eye 17 of the bracket 16. Further movement of the record releases the needle and tone arm from the reset means and finally the latch 18 is released to return to its original position.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, a phonograph including a record disc and a sound pick-up arm, reset means for the pickup arm for returning the pick-up arm to the play starting position, late-h means positioned to be actuatable by the reset mechanism upon operation of the latter, a casing having a cover having said phonograph within it, and means responsive to operation of the latch means to release the cover for automatically opening the cover at a predetermined point in the operation of the reset means.

2. A combination as in claim 1 including a jack-in-the box in the casing controlled 'by the said cover.

3. In combination, a phonograph including a record disc and a sound pick-up arm, said pick-up arm having starting and ending positions, a casing having a cover having said phonograph Within it, latch means positioned to be actuatable by the phonograph controlling the said cover, a jack-in-the box within the said casing and means whereby at a predetermined point in the playing of a record the phonograph operates the latch means to re lease the cover and expose the jack-in-the box.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Deaver Oct. 25, 1949 De Boer Dec. 2, 1952 Duncan May 12, 1959 

